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Volunteer Opportunities at ASDM
Thank you for your interest in volunteering with the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum!
Are you looking for a great opportunity to join a vibrant, local community of life-long learners, while simultaneously meeting and sharing information with Guests from around the world? For more information, select 'Education - Docent' in the list below.
Volunteer Opportunities are available in the following areas:
- Volunteer Description:
- Docents are trained volunteers who engage Museum guests through the sharing of natural history and conservation stories to foster a better understanding and appreciation of the Sonoran Desert region. Docents empower people to live in better harmony with the natural world. Docents are adults of all ages, walks of life, and educational backgrounds.
Docent responsibilities include:
- Providing excellent customer service to all guests, volunteers and employees.
- Facilitating rich and rewarding guest experiences by being friendly, approachable and helpful.
- Teaching guests, in an informal setting, about the Sonoran Desert and its peoples, plants, animals, geology and climate, and the interrelationships among them.
- Teaching about the role of zoos in conservation, and the Museum’s conservation work.
- Sparking engaging conversations that inspire guests to conservation action by conveying empathy and enthusiasm.
- Facilitating hands-on educational activities and games for guests of all ages.
- Sharing conservation messages and suggested actions.
- Engaging the public during on-site programs and events such as specialty tours, weddings, corporate events and Cool Summer Nights.
- Presenting live animals to museum guests (Docents must successfully complete at least one year in the program before they are eligible to work with live animals)
- Benefits:
- This is a great opportunity to join a vibrant, local community of life-long learners while simultaneously meeting Guests from around the world. Docents receive in-depth training in natural history and interpretation methods and are also provided access to continuing education opportunities. Active Museum Volunteers enjoy benefits which include free memberships, discounts in the gift shops and restaurants, and Service Merit Awards.
- Requirements:
- Volunteers in this position must be able to get to and from the Museum, as the Museum is unable to provide transportation, and there is no public transportation available. This position is best suited to those who are comfortable with public speaking, or have a desire to develop their public speaking skills, and for those who are interested in learning, and sharing what they learn, about nature and conservation with Museum guests. Successful applicants are friendly, adaptable, comfortable interacting with diverse groups of people, comfortable interacting with children, excited to introduce people to the wonders of the natural world, and able to learn and remember the Desert Museum’s safety procedures and protocols. Applicants should be aware that the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum contains approximately two miles of outdoor trails with uneven terrain and wild animals. Docents must be able to move around the Museum and they may also be exposed to heat, cold, wind, rain, and sun for long periods of time. Docents may also encounter free-roaming venomous animals during their shifts. Applicants must be able to attend a mandatory orientation training on October 3, 2026, the following trainings in October (10, 17, 24), and at least one additional cycle of trainings in 2027. More information about Docent Training, including the specific dates and times of classes, can be found on the Docent Website: https://www.desertmuseum.org/center/edu/docents.php
- Current Openings:
- Multiple shifts are available for every day of the week.
- Volunteer Description:
- Volunteers in this position are assigned but not limited to support of the Stingray Touch Exhibit. Volunteers are support for the animal Keeper staff. Additionally, Volunteers in this role will engage and guide guests with instructions, guidelines, interpretation and animal contact. This includes the guest feeding experience and other husbandry-related tasks and activities.
Primary Specific Tasks:
- Assist HIIZ Keeper staff
- Assist with basic stingray husbandry (i.e., logging observations, etc.)
- Interact with Museum visitors
- Help facilitate guest entry and guest services while at the stingray exhibit
- Assure the safety of both the stingrays and guests at all times
- Stingray pool-related tasks
- Assist with enrichment activities
- Other tasks may be assigned
- Benefits:
- This is a unique opportunity to volunteer with stingrays at an AZA accredited, world-class institution. Volunteers receive the opportunity to expand upon their public speaking skills while gaining hands-on experience. Great for resume building and career building experience. Active status volunteers receive numerous benefits including complimentary membership and discounts for the duration of their service.
- Requirements:
- Applicants must be at least 18 years of age, must have the ability to bend, kneel and balance while doing a variety of tasks; they must also be comfortable lifting up to 25 lbs. Applicants should be comfortable helping outdoors throughout the year and have the ability to work cooperatively with others in a complex and busy social environment. Having a positive attitude is very important, and applicants must also be able and willing to follow directions. Preference will be shown to applicants who can demonstrate good general communication skills. For the safety of the animals, applicants must be able to think quickly in demanding situations while adhering to HIIZ department protocols. Applicants should have a clear understanding of the boundaries related to animal interactions. All Desert Museum Volunteers must be able to learn and retain the Desert Museum’s safety procedures and protocols, as well as position specific responsibilities and competencies. Year-round availability welcome but not necessary.
- Current Openings:
- multiple days and shifts available
- Volunteer Description:
- The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (ASDM) established the Tortoise Adoption Program (TAP) to benefit the welfare of captive and wild tortoises and turtles. The program is sanctioned by the Arizona Game and Fish Department and designed to assist with the transfer of unwanted or surplus captive desert tortoises to qualified private custodians. Volunteers in this role assist staff with TAP participant communications and help with the tortoise placement process.
- Checks phones and emails on an assigned day
- Replies to calls and emails from TAP participants
- Assists with coordinating tortoise placement
- If interested, helps with community tabling events
- Benefits:
- Contribute to wildlife conservation while interacting with passionate members of the community who are interested in gaining more knowledge about tortoise care. This Volunteer role offers the flexibility of working primarily from home at a time that works for your schedule. Great for resume building and career building experience. Active Status Museum Volunteers enjoy benefits which include free memberships, discounts in the gift shops and restaurants, and Service Merit Awards.
- Requirements:
- Skills/knowledge required: Applicants must have access to phone and internet and have their own transportation. Background/Experience desired: None required, but knowledge of animals, especially tortoises, is a plus. Other Requirements: Applicants must be 18 years or older to participate. Applicants should also be willing to learn basic tortoise husbandry and be able to relay that information to others via phone or email. All Desert Museum Volunteers must be able to learn and retain the Desert Museum’s safety procedures and protocols, as well as position specific responsibilities and competencies.
- Current Openings:
- Saturdays or Sundays (hours flexible)
If a position aligns with your interests and availability, please fill out the following form:
Volunteer Application Form
If you're having trouble accessing the online application, please print this application form (PDF) and mail it to Volunteer & Internship Programs Coordinator (Mike Walker) at: 2021 N. Kinney Road, Tucson, AZ 85743.
If you have any questions or need additional information, please don't hesitate to call the Volunteer & Internship Programs Coordinator (Mike Walker) at: 520-883-3082 or at [email protected].
